Sunday, 26 January 2014

Are Pets Killing the Environment?

What has four paws, loves belly rubs, and is poisoning our planet?
Some research points the finger at our fluffy friends—and urges us to be
considerate of their carbon pawprints.
Mother Jones recently reported on the book Time to Eat the Dog? The Real Guide to Sustainable Living, explores what sustainability really means across all of our lifestyle decisions… including our pets.
So what harm are Mr. Whisker Mittens and Fluffy McKissyNose doing? The book’s authors found that:

Dogs are the
biggest offenders—a medium-sized pup is worse for the planet than a
gas-guzzling car, with twice the impact of driving a luxury SUV 10,000
miles.

While unscooped poop contaminates waterways, those of us who do scoop usually use bags that aren’t biodegradable.

Cats aren’t off
the hook either—two million tons of cat litter gets sent to landfill
each year, and most of it isn’t biodegradable.

Outdoor cat? It
can have an impact on the local wildlife, as anyone who’s received a
mouse “gift” from their well-meaning friend knows.

Nosh time is rough, too. Pet food has an environmental cost when it comes to packaging, shipping, and distribution.

Of course, even the
most eco-conscious pet owner would probably argue that the benefits of
having a pet outweighs the impact it has on the earth—they’re important
parts of our lives and families. If you’re set on lowering our pet’s
carbon pawprint, though, Mother Jones offers some suggestions: